Members of the J Pod were spotted Tuesday afternoon off Blake Island as we learn that a member of the K Pod has likely died.
The news about the missing orca comes from the Center For Whale Research on San Juan Island.
Researchers say they last saw the missing killer whale in July. Still, orcas have been seen around the Puget Sound for nearly a month.
Whale watchers with a pair of good binoculars could see the endangered Southern Resident orcas. They were on the West Seattle side of Blake Island.
“I always carry my binoculars,” said Jeff Crow, “because it’s the only way you can see them when they are that far out.”
You could call the West Seattle man an orca chaser.
“I can see them now,” said Crow.
Whale chasers have spent the last 25 days monitoring the J Pod and its relatives in the K and L pods swimming all around Puget Sound. Then early Tuesday afternoon, the J Pod was spotted around Vashon Island, then rounding the south end of Blake Island, heading east.
That’s where Crow picked them up.